Matt Simms' journeyman career leads to Super Bowl

Tennessee quarterback Matt Simms celebrates prematurely before being called back to the sidelines for a foul called for too many players on the field against the Vols at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La., on Oct. 2, 2010. The Tigers sealed the win against the Vols by scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter with no time left on the clock.(Photo: News Sentinel file)

HOUSTON – The youngest son of New York Giants icon Phil Simms is here for the Super Bowl…and pretending to be Tom Brady.

And Julian Edelman.

And Chris Hogan.

“I’m whatever they need me to be on the practice field,” Matt Simms said.

The practice squad member of the Atlanta Falcons and former University of Tennessee quarterback – whose dad was MVP of Super Bowl XXI, and whose brother, Chris, played eight seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos before following his father into broadcasting – is helping Atlanta prepare to face the Patriots in Super Bowl LI on Sunday at NRG Stadium in Houston.

Matt Simms, 28, has spent his young adult life trying to find the right fit. He signed a national letter of intent with Louisville out of high school, but transferred to El Camino Junior College in Torrance, Calif., before arriving in Knoxville.

Simms posted a 2-8 record as a starter over two seasons with the Volunteers, appearing in 18 games while splitting time with Tyler Bray and Justin Worley. He completed 140 of 257 passes for 1,779 yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions. And though the inconsistent playing time was frustrating, he loved the city and the school.

“I just remember Knoxville just being the epitome of the college town,” Simms said. “The type of place you just dream about going to college and playing football at. To be a Volunteer, to run through the T, to sing Rocky Top, it’s stuff that you dream about as a kid and just hope that you can be a part of it one day and I was fortunate that I was.”

Simms broke into the NFL as an undrafted free agent during a rookie minicamp tryout with the New York Jets in 2012. He appeared in four games over the 2013 and ’14 seasons while serving as a backup to Geno Smith and Mike Vick. He was claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Bills in 2015 before being released and joining the Falcons’ practice squad later that year.

Over the last two years, Simms has seen Matt Ryan struggle through one of the worst seasons of his career, only to become an MVP candidate and lead the Falcons to the Super Bowl.

Ryan tossed 21 touchdowns last season, the fewest since his rookie year in 2008. He was also intercepted 16 times, the second-most picks in his career, as the Falcons finished with an 8-8 record.

This season, though, he's been on a tear, completing 69.9 percent of his passes for 4,944 yards, 38 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Those are all career-best numbers. The Falcons are 11-5 and own the most potent offense in the NFL.

“I think you can kind of see it across the NFL,” Simms said. “One year doesn’t really explain everything, what’s going on behind the scenes and what’s going on on the field always. Last year we lost a lot of tough, close games. And this year, the second year in the offense, man, what a difference a year makes. You can see that continuity coming through in those clutch moments late in games, when it matters. Tom Brady and their offense is a great example, too. He’s been running the same offense for 15 years, so you can see why they have great continuity on their side as well.

“Matt Ryan and (offensive coordinator) Kyle (Shanahan) developed this continuity within a year, and, man, it took off this year and it’s awesome.”